Two-piece warming oven

ABSTRACT

A two-piece warming oven includes a base, a heat-conducting unit, and a heating unit for heating the conducting member. The base includes a supporting plate, and a plurality of spaced-apart upright supporting rods disposed around the supporting plate and having lower end portions connected fixedly to an outer periphery of the supporting plate to define an accommodating space above the supporting plate and among the supporting rods. The heat-conducting unit is connected removably to the base, and is convertible between a used position, where the heat-conducting unit is disposed above the accommodating space, and a storage position, where the heat-conducting unit is inverted and extends into the accommodating space.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 100224151,filed on Dec. 21, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a warming oven, and more particularly to atwo-piece warming oven including two pieces, one of which is invertibleto reduce the total volume and length of the warming oven for storageand transportation.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a warming oven disclosed in Chinese Patent Application No.200730048740.3, heat is generated by a heating unit disposed within abase, and is transmitted upwardly through a heat-conducting tube forincreasing the surrounding temperature. During generation of the heat, afire flame occurs in the heat-conducting tube to have a betterdecorating effect. To comply with safety regulation, such a warming ovenmust have a height of at least two meters, thereby resulting ininconvenience during storage and transportation of the warming oven.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to provide a warming oven that isconvenient to store and transport.

According to this invention, a two-piece warming oven includes a base, aheat-conducting unit, and a heating unit for heating the conductingmember. The base includes a supporting plate, and a plurality ofspaced-apart upright supporting rods disposed around the supportingplate and having lower end portions connected fixedly to an outerperiphery of the supporting plate to define an accommodating space abovethe supporting plate and among the supporting rods. The heat-conductingunit is connected removably to the base, and is convertible between aused position, where the heat-conducting unit is disposed above theaccommodating space, and a storage position, where the heat-conductingunit is inverted and extends into the accommodating space.

An assembly of the base and the heating unit acts as one of the twopieces, and the heat-conducting unit acts as the other of the twopieces. When the heat-conducting unit is disposed at the storageposition, since a major portion thereof extends into the accommodatingspace to reduce significantly the total volume and length of the warmingoven, the warming oven is convenient to store and transport.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodimentof this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a warmingoven according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the preferredembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating aused position of a heat-conducting unit; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating astorage position of the heat-conducting unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of a two-piecewarming oven 1 according to this invention includes a base 2, aheat-conducting unit 3 connected removably to the base 2, a heating unit4 (see FIG. 3) for heating the heat-conducting unit 3, and a roller unit5 disposed on a lateral side of the base 2. In this embodiment, anassembly of the base 2, the heating unit 4, and the roller unit 5 actsas one of the two pieces, and the heating unit 4 acts as the other ofthe two pieces.

With further reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the base 2 includes asupporting plate 21, a plurality of spaced-apart upright supporting rods22 of L-shaped cross-section disposed around the supporting plate 21 andhaving lower end portions connected fixedly to an outer periphery of thesupporting plate 21, a plurality of first coupling members 23 connectedrespectively and fixedly to top ends of the supporting rods 22 and eachformed with two threaded holes 231, two engaging rings 24 disposedrespectively and fixedly on two adjacent ones of the supporting rods 22,a plurality of stop plates 25 each connected between two adjacent onesof the supporting rods 22, and a plurality of height-adjustable supports26 connected to and disposed under bottom ends of the supporting rods22, respectively. The supporting plate 21 cooperates with the supportingrods and the stop plates 25 to define an accommodating space 27 abovethe supporting plate 21 and among the supporting rods 22 and the stopplates 25. In this embodiment, the supporting plate 21 is square, andhas four upright side plate portions 210 disposed respectively at foursides thereof. Each of the side plate portions 210 is formed with aninverted U-shaped slot 211 therethrough that has a horizontal slotsection and two upright slot sections extending respectively anddownwardly from two ends of the horizontal slot section to define aprojecting plate portion 212 among the horizontal slot section and theupright slot sections. Each of the stop plates 25 has a plate body 250and two retaining rings 251 welded to the plate body 250. Since each ofthe retaining rings 251 is sleeved on the corresponding plate portion212, and since each of the lateral side surfaces of each of the stopplates 25 is in intimate contact with the corresponding supporting rod22, the stop plates 25 can be positioned relative to the supportingplate 21 and the supporting rods 22.

The heat-conducting unit 3 includes: a positioning plate 31 defining atop end of the accommodating space 27 and having a first aperture 311; atop plate 32 spaced apart from and disposed above the positioning plate31 and having a second aperture 321; a conducting member 33 configuredas an upright quartz glass tube, connected between the positioning plate31 and the top plate 32, and in fluid communication with the first andsecond apertures 311, 321; a plurality of upright connecting rods 34disposed around the conducting member 33, connected fixedly to outerperipheries of the positioning pate 31 and the top plate 32, lockedrespectively and removably on the supporting rods 22 by a plurality offirst lock bolts 6 (see FIG. 4); a plurality of second coupling members35 connected respectively and fixedly to the connecting rods 34 andhaving bottom ends disposed below the connecting rods 34; a fireproofnet 36 disposed on and above the top plate 32 and around the secondaperture 321; a windproof shield 37 disposed around the fireproof net 36and having a plurality of vent holes 371; a top cover 38 disposedfixedly on and above the fireproof net 36; a plurality of net plates 39each connected fixedly between two adjacent ones of the connecting rods34; and a plurality of zigzag retaining plates 30 located around thewindproof shield 37 and disposed fixedly on and extending respectivelyand upwardly from top ends of the connecting rods 34. The windproofshield 37 further has a plurality of zigzag plate portions 372 abuttingrespectively against the zigzag retaining plates 30, so as to preventmovement of the windproof shield relative to the zigzag retaining plates30. The cross-section shape of each of the connecting rods 34 is thesame as that of each of the supporting rods 22, such that bottom endsurfaces of the connecting rods 34 abut respectively against top endsurfaces of the supporting rods 22. Each of the second coupling members35 is configured as a flat plate, and has two through holes 351 formedtherethrough.

With further reference to FIG. 5, the heating unit 4 includes a fuelsource 40 configured as a gas barrel and placed on the top surface ofthe supporting plate 21, a heater 41 that is heated by the fuel source40, that is attached to and disposed under the positioning plate 31 ofthe heat-conducting unit 3, and that is aligned with the first aperture311, and a position-limiting member 42 hooked removably on two adjacentones of the supporting rods 22 for positioning the fuel source 40 withinthe accommodating space 27 in the base 2. The heater 41 is used forheating the conducting member 33 of the heat-conducting unit 3. Theposition-limiting member 42 has a curved intermediate section 421 forcontact with the fuel source 40, and two L-shaped ends 422 insertedrespectively into the engaging rings 24.

In this embodiment, the roller unit 5 is attached to a side of thesupporting plate 21.

The heat-conducting unit 3 is convertible between a used position shownin FIG. 5, where the heat-conducting unit 3 is connected fixedly to anddisposed above the base 2, and a storage position shown in FIG. 6, wherethe heat-conducting unit 3 is inverted and received partially within theaccommodating space 27 in the base 2. At the used position, theheat-conducting unit 3 is disposed above the accommodating space 27, theconnecting rods 34 are connected respectively to the supporting rods 22by the first lock bolts 6 extending respectively through the throughholes 351 in the second coupling members 35 and engaging respectivelythe threaded holes 231 in the first coupling member 23, and each of thestop plates 25 is connected fixedly to the positioning plate 31 by twosecond lock bolts 7 (see FIG. 3), such that the fuel source 40 can beplaced on the supporting plate 21. When the heat-conducting unit 3 is atthe used position and when it is desired to move the two-piece warmingoven 1 from one place to another place, the two-piece warming oven 1 isreclined in a direction (A) (see FIG. 5) until the roller unit 5 comesinto contact with the ground. Hence, the two-piece warming oven 1 actsas a wheeled device, and can be pushed easily and conveniently. When thewheeled device is moved, since the curved portion 421 of theposition-limiting member 42 is concave away from the fuel source 40, asshown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the fuel source 40 can be supported stably bythe curved portion 421 of the position-limiting member 42.

When use of the two-piece warming oven 1 is intended, the heightadjustable supports 26 are first adjusted so as to allow the two-piecewarming oven 1 stand stably. Next, the heater 41 is operated so that afire flame is produced in the quartz glass tube 33 and goes upwardly outof the quartz glass tube 33 through the second aperture 321. Hence, thequartz glass tube 33 is heated so that the surrounding temperaturearises. During heating, the fireproof net 36 and the windproof shield 37disposed above the quartz glass tube 33 cooperate to prevent the fireflame to go out laterally, and the vent holes 371 in the windproofshield 37 permit supplementation of fresh air into the quartz glass tube33 therethrough to prevent incomplete combustion due to lack of oxygengas.

When a reduction in the total volume or total length of the two-piecewarming oven 1 is desired, e.g., for a manufacturer to transport thetwo-piece warming oven 1 to a distributor, the first lock bolts 6 arefirst removed so that the heat-conducting unit 3 can be removed from thebase 2. Next, the fuel source 40, the position-limiting member 42, thetop cover 38, the windproof shield 37, the fireproof net 36, and thesecond lock bolts 7 are removed. Subsequently, the heat-conducting unit3 can be inverted and inserted into the accommodating space 27 until theintermediate portions of the connecting rods 34 come into contact withthe top ends of the supporting rods 22, so that the heat-conducting unit3 is disposed at the storage position. At the storage position, thetwo-piece warming oven 1 can also be changed to a wheeled device forconvenience of transportation. During such a transportation, since thezigzag structure of the connecting rods 34 and the supporting rods 22,the connecting rods 34 can be supported stably by the supporting rods22.

It should be noted that, the number and shape of each of the connectingrods 34 and the supporting rods 22 can be changed according to actualneeds.

As such, since the base 2 is connected removably to the heat-conductingunit 3, the two-piece warming oven 1 is convenient to store andtransport. Thus, the object of this invention is achieved. Furthermore,the fuel source 40 is supported stably by the position-limiting member42. Further, since the windproof shield 37 can be positioned by thezigzag retaining plates 30, no positioning means is required to maintainthe position of the windproof shield 37 relative to the top plate 32.

With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerousmodifications and variations can be made without departing from thescope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that thisinvention be limited only as indicated by the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A two-piece warming oven comprising: a base including asupporting plate having a top surface, and a plurality of spaced-apartupright supporting rods disposed around said supporting plate and havinglower end portions connected fixedly to an outer periphery of saidsupporting plate to define an accommodating space above said supportingplate and among said supporting rods; a heat-conducting unit connectedremovably to said base and convertible between a used position, wheresaid heat-conducting unit is disposed above said accommodating space,and a storage position, where said heat-conducting unit is inverted andextends into said accommodating space, said heat-conducting unitincluding a conducting member; and a heating unit disposed on said basefor heating said conducting member when said heat-conducting unit is atsaid used position; wherein, when said heat-conducting unit is at saidstorage position, at least one portion of said heat-conducting unit isremoved from the remaining portion of said heat-conducting unit, and atleast one portion of said heating unit is removed from said base.
 2. Thetwo-piece warming oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidheat-conducting unit further includes a positioning plate that defines atop end of said accommodating space in said base, a top plate disposedabove said positioning plate, and a plurality of connecting rods thatare disposed around said conducting member, that are connected fixedlyto outer peripheries of said positioning plate and said top plate, andthat are locked respectively and removably on said supporting rods ofsaid base, said conducting member being configured as an upright quartzglass tube connected between said positioning plate and said top plate.3. The two-piece warming oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein each ofsaid supporting rods of said base and said connecting rods of saidheat-conducting unit has an L-shaped cross-section, such that top endsurfaces of said supporting rods abut against bottom end surfaces ofsaid connecting rods when said heat-conducting unit is at said usedposition, and such that intermediate portions of said supporting rodsabut respectively against top ends of said supporting rods, said basefurther including a plurality of first coupling members connectedrespectively and fixedly to said supporting rods, each of said firstcoupling members being formed with a plurality of threaded holes, saidheat-conducting unit further including a plurality of second couplingmembers connected respectively and fixedly to said connecting rods, eachof said second coupling members having a plurality of through holes thatare formed therethrough and that are disposed below a corresponding oneof said connecting rods, said two-piece warming oven further comprisinga plurality of lock bolts extending respectively through said throughholes in said second coupling members and engaging respectively saidthreaded holes in said first coupling members, so that said connectingrods are locked respectively and removably on said supporting rods. 4.The two-piece warming oven as claimed in claim 2, wherein said heatingunit includes a fuel source placed on said top surface of saidsupporting plate, a heater that is heated by said fuel source and thatis attached to and disposed under said positioning plate, and aposition-limiting member hooked removably on two adjacent ones of saidsupporting rods for positioning said fuel source within saidaccommodating space in said base, said fuel source and saidposition-limiting member constituting two said portions of said heatingunit.
 5. The two-piece warming oven as claimed in claim 4, wherein saidbase further includes two engaging rings disposed respectively andfixedly on said two adjacent ones of said supporting rods, saidposition-limiting member having two L-shaped ends inserted respectivelyinto said engaging rings.
 6. The two-piece warming oven as claimed inclaim 5, wherein said fuel source is configured as a gas barrel, andsaid position-limiting member further has a curved intermediate sectionfor contact with said gas barrel.
 7. The two-piece warming oven asclaimed in claim 4, wherein said positioning plate has a first aperture,and said top plate has a second aperture, said heater being aligned withsaid first aperture, said quartz glass tube being in fluid communicationwith said first and second apertures.
 8. The two-piece warming oven asclaimed in claim 7, wherein said heat-conducting unit further includes afireproof net disposed fixedly on and above said top plate and aroundsaid second aperture, a windproof shield disposed fixedly on and abovesaid top plate, surrounding said fireproof net, and having a pluralityof vent holes; and a top cover disposed fixedly on and above saidfireproof net, said fireproof net, said windproof shield, and said topcover constituting three said portions of said heat-conducting unit. 9.The two-piece warming oven as claimed in claim 8, wherein saidheat-conducting unit further includes a plurality of zigzag retainingplates located around said windproof shield and disposed respectivelyand fixedly on and extending upwardly from top ends of said connectingrods, and said windproof shield has a plurality of zigzag plate portionsabutting respectively against said zigzag retaining plates, so as toprevent movement of said windproof shield relative to said zigzagretaining plates.
 10. The two-piece warming oven as claimed in claim 2,wherein said supporting plate is polygonal, and said two-piece warmingoven further comprising a roller unit disposed on a side of saidsupporting plate.
 11. The two-piece warming oven as claimed in claim 2,wherein said heat-conducting unit further includes a plurality of netplates each connected fixedly between two adjacent ones of saidconnecting rods.
 12. The two-piece warming oven as claimed in claim 1,wherein said base further includes a plurality of stop plates eachconnected between two adjacent ones of said supporting rods forconfining said fuel source within said accommodating space.
 13. Thetwo-piece warming oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base furtherincludes a plurality of height-adjustable supports connected to anddisposed under bottom ends of said supporting rods, respectively.